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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 12, 1S83. 



TRVIT GARDEN. 



Regulated foreright Bhoots, nipped and disbudded Peaoh- 

 Bhoots, and tied, hunted for insects, watered cherry trees, especially 

 setting their bloom, as a few pots of water then often make 

 much difference. We have noted how forward blooms of Straw- 

 berries were injured by the frost of the last day of the preceding 

 month. Run the hoe through Strawberry-quarters to keep the 

 moisture 'in and to prevent the ground cracking. This will 

 enable the rain to penetrate more easily too when it comes, and 

 a good soaking before long would just make all sure for a heavy 

 Strawberry crop. Turned out pots of Strawberries from the 

 houses as soon as the fruit was gathered. The crowding now is 

 not good for the permanent crops cultivated. We will put 

 in the later houses one more batch of plants that are now in 

 blosBom, and if there should threaten to be a hitch, we must then 

 forward some out of doors with lights placed over them. 



We have scarcely been beyond the garden walls for along time, 

 but we saw two long shelves of Strawberries in a span-roof house 

 at Luton Hoo yesterday, which we think worth noting, not only 

 for the excellence of the crops, chiefly British Queen, but more 

 especially as the method adopted is not only very simple, 

 but one that we have already several times recommended. The 

 shelf cannot be simpler. A common board, perhaps, about 

 7 or 8 inches wide, and on this is placed a turf of about 1 inch 

 thick, and the same width as the shelf, the grassy Bide being 

 turned downwards. On this turf the pots are placed, and the 

 roots were running into it, and one advantage is, that it is scarcely 

 possible with common treatment to over-water the plants, and 

 another advantage is, that the turf becomes a reservoir alike of 

 nourishment and of moisture, whilst the latter can never be pre- 

 sented m such a shape as to make a morass plant of the Straw- 

 berry. There was another striking feature. As the doors were 

 standing open the shelves on each side seemed to be adorned 

 with drooping verdure, which gives a cool very refreshing ap- 

 pearance to the fruit, owing to the grass from the turf being 

 allowed to grow on each side. Some might have preferred 

 cutting it off, but in the situation referred to we think the grass 

 added an attraction to the scene. Some day we shall give an 

 account of these new houses, meanwhile we regret that we 

 cannot give the exact position of these shelves, as that we think 

 has something to do with the success ; but we may state from 

 memory, that the shelf wa B 2J feet from the apex of the house, 

 and some 15 inches from the sloping glass of the roof. We may 

 also mention for the purpose of directing attention to the point, 

 that m another house with sloped roof and hipped at back, a 

 shelf was also looting well, but was evidently too near the glass 

 When compared with the preceding one. The pots being so near 

 the glass must have been excessively hot in very Bunny days and 

 to neutralise the effect of that a very thin slip of wood, and 

 nearly as deep as the pots, was slipped in between them and the 

 sloping glass, and thus the south side of the pot would be little 

 hotter than the north Bide. This shelf was too near the glass to 

 permit of the turf being used, but Mr. Eraser proposed lowering 

 it next season so that the plants should be further from the 

 glass. We find that when the plants are close to the glass, 

 though good fruits are obtained, the flower-Btalks are much more 

 stubby, and, of course, they are more liable to feel the effeots of 

 sudden changes of temperature and atmospheric moisture. 



We feel much interested in the account " Prttit-eater " gives 

 of his failure with Keens' Seedlings. The tiniest little plants 

 will generally show bloom the first year. The failure of " Erttit- 

 EATEr " is so much like the case of a merchant which we described 

 a year or two ego, that we do not thoroughly coincide in our good 

 Editors' idea of the barrenness not being owing to extra luxuri- 

 ance. We think that over-luxuriance, too much manure, and too 

 much rich manure-waterings in autumn, will keep on growth in- 

 stead of inducing the forming of fruit-buds. Our merchant friend, 

 a little earlier than this, was much astonished on beholding our 

 black looks on taking us to see what people said was the most 

 Bplendid bed m the neighbourhood j and so it was, if he had 

 been content with leaves instead of fruit. We saw there would 

 be few blooms ; and we think, instead of several bushels he did 

 not get above five or six ounces of fruit. As far as we could make 

 out the plants were planted in the end of July. The ground 

 was heavily manured ; the plants were thoroughly watered up 

 to the end of October with soapsuds, drainings from the dung- 

 hill, &c, and the result as above. Part of the plants were 

 destroyed, and others planted in the same place, which did well. 

 Part were left, and these were kept thin in summer. Not only 

 the runners, but even the buds were thinned ; and as they Btood 



their ground well without the waterpail, no waterings in summer 

 or autumn were given, and the following year there was no 

 end of fruit-buds and flower-trusses. As a general rule, though 

 Strawberries delight in rich feeding, they like extra supplies best 

 m spring as the fruit is coining on, and in summer when ex- 

 posed to a powerful sun; rich feeding and manure-watering in- 

 autumn, as in the above case of our merchant, are apt to do- 

 more harm than good. Perhaps a " Fruit-eater " may from 

 this case gain a hint, as it is the only one we know of that so closely 

 resembles his own. We suspect that this is also the opinion of 

 the Editors. r 



One little fact more about Strawberries, which is no less a 

 fact, though we are not learned enough to give a cleur-enotigh 

 outline even to please ourselves how it is bo. The fact is. that 

 Strawberries wiion forced moderately earlv, and planted-out in 

 the open ground, will give you some nice "fruit in the autumn, 

 and an extraordinary crop the following year— such a crop as 

 would be looked for in vain from any young plants, or even 

 those rising two years old, if both received tlie same common 

 treatment. We recollect hearing this matter talked over some 

 twelve years ago at a festive party, which some of ns will 

 never forget, though several of the brightest Bpirits there have 

 gone home since then. Among others, C. W. Johnson, Esq., 

 well acquainted with gardening, but more distinguished as an 

 agricultural chemist, could understand very well how a crop of a 

 certain kind could be obtained in autumn, and could not see on 

 what principle, after the exhaustion of two orops in one season, 

 the plant should have BUch fruitful energies the following season. 

 Well, there is a nut to crack. Many oan confirm the fact from 

 their own experience, and many can also say that these also 

 come rather earlier than other plants, the last season's runners 

 coming next. When we have repotted such plants, we have 

 also had heavy crops, but we never followed that plan up much ; 

 as, though the fruit was so plentiful individually in pots, the 

 specimens were not so line as those obtained from young plants, 

 though, no doubt, much might have been done by thinning 

 freely, if time had permitted. 



One fact more as to these forced plants when turned out. 

 This fine crop the first season afterwards is all that can be urged 

 m their favour. When ground is hunted they ought not to stand 

 after that first year. Evory season they remain afterwards there 

 will be declension and decline in quantity and quality. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



Much the same as last week, potting, protecting, prickin»-out, 

 atering, and shading, &e. — R. P. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*„* We request that no one wiE write privately to the depart- 

 mental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense! All 

 communications should therefore be ad-jessed solely to The 

 Editors of the "Journal of Morticuiture, &c" 162, Meet 

 Street, London, E. C. 

 We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the 

 same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on 

 Poultry and Dee subjects, it they expect to get them answered 

 promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate 

 communications. Also never to send more than two or 

 three questions at once. 

 We oannot reply privately to any communication unless under 

 very special circumstances. 

 Insects on Melons (E. Murst).-The insects sent are several Bpecies of 

 sma'l rove beetles (Staphyliuidte), which, ,re generally considered as feeding 

 on otlier insects or on decaying vegetable matter.— W. 



Polyanthus Sport (O. Daniel).— The calyx has become leafy, and the 

 sport probably will not be permanent. 



Mowing Machine (John Boland).—\\e cannot recommend one maker in 

 preference to anotber; you must read the advertisements in our Journal, 

 and select tbat which promises to suit you best. If kept in good order, any 

 one of tttem will do what you require; but to be worked by one man we 

 would have it narrower than you mention. 



Tenant Removing Garden Buildings (Clio) All buildings maybe so 



erected as to be removable by a tenant at the end of his term; but we 

 cannot afford space to enter into details. If the foundation is of brick 

 bave a plate of wood fixed to it ami to that plate have the superstructure 

 attached by screws. The whole superstructure may be then removed. The 

 boiler, pipes, 46c, may be removed also. 



Work on the Vine {J. M. JieCTefton).— Sanders on the Vine would 

 suit you probably. You can have it tree by post from our office if you send 

 your direction with 5s. 2d., either by a post-offlce order or in penny 

 postage stamps. * ' 





